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The US government is on the brink of a shutdown starting next weekend due to the absence of a budget deal. The right wing of the Republican party’s staunch opposition makes it highly unlikely for lawmakers to reach an agreement.
In a narrow timeframe of one week, legislators need to devise a spending plan that can gather support from both chambers of Congress. However, given the slim majority the Republicans hold in the House of Representatives and the Democrats’ razor-thin margin in the Senate, achieving a consensus will be a challenging task.
If an agreement is not reached by midnight next Saturday, millions of federal employees will face furloughs, resulting in the cessation of all non-essential government operations.
A prolonged shutdown could have adverse effects on the US economy, exacerbating concerns about an impending recession and denting business and consumer confidence.
The current budget impasse stems from a deep divide within the Republican party regarding taxation, spending, and the approval of an additional aid package for Ukraine.
This discord among Republicans also jeopardizes the leadership position of Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House and representative from California. McCarthy previously managed to broker a deal in May that prevented a historic default on US government debt. However, he now faces a more daunting challenge in trying to satisfy the demands of a faction within his own party that has thwarted his recent efforts to secure government funding.
Former president Donald Trump, who presided over two government shutdowns during his tenure, has emboldened the right wing of the House Republican conference. Trump expressed support for a shutdown, posting on his Truth Social media platform, “Republicans in Congress can and must defund all aspects of Crooked Joe Biden’s weaponized Government… They failed on the debt limit, but they must not fail now. Use the power of the purse and defend the Country!”
Even if McCarthy manages to appease the demands of the right-wing members of his party, any deal reached in the House must also gain approval from the Democrat-controlled Senate. Notably, the Republican hardliners in the Senate have shown no willingness to support a bipartisan compromise.
Some members of the House Republican conference, notably Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, have hinted that they would oppose any bipartisan deal put forth by McCarthy. Furthermore, they would initiate a “motion to vacate” or a vote of no confidence against the Speaker in an attempt to remove him from his post.
The White House has emphasized that funding the government is Congress’s responsibility, and has placed blame for the dysfunction on House Republicans. However, the Biden administration has begun preparing for the likelihood of a shutdown by collaborating with federal agencies to develop contingency plans.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged Congress to fulfill its obligations, stating, “The best plan is for House Republicans to stop their partisan political play, and not do this to hurt Americans across the country.”
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